Word combinations

think sth over обдумывать что-н

look over sth оглядеть (осмотреть) что-н

at least по крайней мере

stand on one's rights настаивать на своих правах

at last наконец

talk sth over обговорить что-н

Look here! Послушай!

that is why поэтому

as it is как есть

Exercises

COMPREHENSION

Ex 1 Answer the following questions.

1. Where did the incident happen? 2. How often did the two young men get the mail? 3. Which of them used to get a lot of letters by every mail? 4. Why was Brown so eager to get a letter? 5. What idea did Brown have one day when they were expecting the mail? 6. How did Adams like Brown's idea? 7. What agreement did they come to? 8. Why was Adams rather surprised when Brown refused to tell him a single word about the letter that he had bought? 9. Why did the refusal upset Adams? 10. How long did it take Adams to make up his mind that he needed the letter more than the money? 11. Why did Brown refuse to return the letter to Adams? 12. What did Maugham mean when he said that he was not a story writer of the modern school? 13. Why was Maugham unable to write a story on the incident?

Ex 2 Look through the text once again, and:

1. See if you can tell in what part of the world the incident took place. 2. Say how old Adams and Brown were, and what sort of work they did. 3. Explain why Maugham did not give the real names of the two men. 4. Say what conclusions can be made about (a) Adams's character, (b) Brown's character. 5. See if you can explain why Adams used to get a lot of letters, while Brown never got one. 6. Say which episode, in your opinion, may serve as an illustration of the proverb "Actions speak louder than words". 7. Say what, in Maugham's opinion, is the most essential characteristic of a story.

Ex 3 Find in the text the English translation for the following phrases, and use them in retelling and discussing the text.

двое молодых парней; работать на чайной плантации; в горах; привозить почту издалека; получать почту; через довольно длительные промежутки времени; получать много писем с каждой почтой; с завистью наблюдать; перебрать письма и выбрать одно из них; расстроиться; это мое дело; немного поспорить; не отступать от своих прав; рассердиться; приложить все усилия; еще раз поговорить по этому вопросу; намереваться оставить письмо у себя; противоречить принципам.

Key structures and word study

Ex 4 Give the four forms of the following verbs.

say, pay, write, think, buy, let, take, read, argue, agree, give, sell, tell, take, choose, find, feel, break, upset, keep, mean.

Ex 5 Make up five groups, each with three words that are associated in meaning or area of usage.

incident packet silence idea belief

form quiet opinion stillness parcel

package configuration happening shape accident

Ex 6 Fill in the blanks with 'surprised' or 'surprising'.

1. When we came in she gave us a — look. She didn't expect us back so early. 2. The story had a most — end. 3. If his assistant was — at the question, he never showed it. 4. It is — how quickly he learns things. 5. To tell you the truth, we were a bit — to hear him say that he could do without any help. 6. There's really nothing — about the incident; it's what everybody expected to happen.

Ex 7 Rewrite the following sentences, using verbs instead of nouns. Make all necessary changes.

1. Did you hear her say anything about the time of her return? 2. When I asked him for help I never expected to hear a refusal. 3. We had a feeling that something unexpected might happen. 4. You gave me a surprise when you said that you had never heard the name of this writer before. 5. They quickly came to an agreement on all the questions. 6. He got "excellent" for his first exam; that was a good start. 7. I am afraid I don't exactly understand your meaning. 8. If he's made a promise, you can be sure he will keep it. 9. After his explanation the grammar rule became quite clear to me. 10. Have you taken any decision yet? 11. I can't give you a very good description of the place as I have been there only once. 12. I don't like your choice, the colour is too bright.

Ex 8 Complete the following, using words and phrases opposite in meaning.

1. "He never did anything to help." "That's where you are wrong, he — ." 2. "Can he keep a promise?" "I've never known him — one." 3. You may be sure that he is telling you the truth, he has never — in his life. 4. I've found the umbrella which I thought I — . It was behind the door all the time. 5. I am eager to buy at least one of his pictures, if he agrees — of course.

Ex 9 Translate the following into English, using a suitable phrasal verb.

think over, talk over, look over

1. Они мне ответили, что не смогут принять никакого решения, пока все не взвесят (обдумают). 2. А что, если обговорить наш план с деканом и послушать, что он скажет. 3. Вопрос достаточно серьезный. Надо подумать. 4. Ей не нужно было смотреть те письма, которые лежали на столе. Того письма, которого она ждала, там не было. 5. Вопрос его несколько удивил. Он окинул взглядом незнакомца, прежде чем ответить. 6. Он осмотрел машину. Все было в порядке, можно было трогаться в путь.

Ех 10 Compare the meaning of the words in bold type with words of the same root in Russian. Translate the sentences.

1. What is his main argument against the arrangement? 2. The sportsman is in good form today. 3. How did the incident happen? 4. We all agreed that it was a matter of principle. 5. This medicine is to be taken four times a day at regular intervals. 6. This news was a great surprise to them all. 7. I have no idea what he meant by his words.

Ex 11 Translate the following sentences using 'leave', 'keep', 'stay' according to the meaning.

1. Он оставил вещи на вокзале и пошел за такси. 2. Почему вы не хотите остаться у нас еще на несколько дней? 3. Мне нужны только два журнала. Остальные вы можете оставить себе. 4. Так как он был серьезно болен, ему пришлось оставить институт на некоторое время. 5. Оставьте эти письма у секретаря. Он передаст их директору, как только тот вернется. 6. Он не мог больше оставаться в Ялте, так как не выносит июльской жары. 7. Оставьте свои шутки. Сейчас не время шутить. 8. Он никогда не оставит товарища в опасности. 9. Не возражаете, если я оставлю себе вашу фотографию? 10. Оставьте ее в покое. Займитесь своим делом. 11. Оставайтесь на местах. Ничего опасного не произошло. 12. Оставь все как есть, без изменений.

Ех 12 Paraphrase the following sentences according to the example.

Example: He broke the silence and asked what the letter was about.

He broke the silence asking...

1. He left the town and promised to come back soon. 2. The man and the woman sat at the table. They were looking into each other's eyes. 3. The child ran into the room. He was pulling a toy horse behind him. 4. The man sat by the fire. He was thinking the matter over. 5. She didn't agree to the arrangement but refused to explain why. 6. The members of the committee stood up and followed the president into the conference room. 7. When he was a boy he used to sit on the bank and watch the boats move slowly down the river. 8. The runners stood in line and waited for the start signal.

Ex 13 Study the following phrases and (a) recall the sentences in which they are used in the text, (b) use them in sentences of your own.

think/look over sth; talk sth over with sb; work on a plantation (a farm); a good (long, short) way off; by mail; come into one's head; at once; find out about sth; by the way; at least; a letter from sb; a bit of an argument (news); (months, weeks, days, etc) go by; at last; make up one's mind; pay for sth; against one's principles (plans, etc).

Ex 14 Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs.

(A) 1. I always find it difficult to make myself agree — something that is — my principles. 2. If he has made — his mind, you can be sure he will have things his own way. 3. They noticed — once — some surprise that the move — East London — West London was more than just a change — address. It was like moving — another world. 4. There is nothing the matter — me today, nothing — all, I've a bit — a headache, that's all. 5. She had meant to talk things — — him, but as time went — she felt less sure she could do it. 6. The farm is a long way — and he has promised to take me there — his car one — these days. 7. What I found — — him was the biggest surprise I'd ever had — my whole life. 8.1 am not quite sure whether you are — or — our plan. 9. Here you are — last! We've lost all hope of seeing you. 10. I wonder what has suddenly come — your head to make you change your mind like that. 11. It was difficult to say what was — his mind and what he would do next. 12. You must choose — a trip — the South and a sea cruise, you can't have both. 13. Why are you so upset — his refusal to come — the party? 14. — my mind that's not the main idea — the book. 15. I never meant to join them — their argument until I felt it was becoming too heated. 16. You will be surprised — the great progress he has made lately! 17. You, as head — the expedition, must always keep your head even if the rest — the men are losing theirs. 18. I never heard him say a single word — the arrangement. He likes it, I suppose.

(B) "— the way, Arthur", Mrs Shelby asked her husband, "who was that fellow we had — dinner today and what is his business — our house?"

"It's Haley. I am selling some — my people — him. He wanted to have Uncle Tom and Harry, Eliza's little boy. I had a bit — an argument — him but I must let him have anyone he likes."

Eliza heard what Mr Shelby told his wife. She took her son, a few clothes, and left the house — her little son.

When Mr Shelby asked to fetch Eliza the next morning, they couldn't find her anywhere. — that time she was already — her way — Ohio. Her son was sleeping — her arms waking — from time to time and asking his mother where they were going.

— the afternoon Eliza walked — a small boat house — the river.

"Isn't there a boat that takes people over — Ohio?" she asked. "I'll give you a dollar if you let me have a boat."

"You can't cross the river — this weather. The ice is breaking. Why are you so eager to get — ?"

Eliza refused to say anything. She looked — — the window and saw Haley coming — the steps. She caught up her child, left the boat house — the back door and ran — the river. — a moment she was — the ice. She saw nothing, felt nothing but continued running until she saw the Ohio side and a man helping her up the bank.

(After "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by H. В Stowe)

Ex 15 Fill in the blanks with a suitable word. Use the correct form. Translate the sentences into Russian.

mean (3), meaning, keep v (2), refuse (2), refusal, fetch, agree (2), against, argument, hand v, return v (2), break v (2), join, mind u, choose, follow, upset, surprised, eager

1. If you want your money to be safe, — it in the bank. 2. He wasn't at all sure that he really — what he said. 3. His — to talk the matter over was a bit of a surprise to us all. 4. She was awfully — to hear that there were no letters in the mail for her. 5. Her son would be — any minute now. She must start getting the dinner ready. 6. He just — to discuss the matter with me and that was the end of it. 7. The mother was rather — to hear her son — so readily to do the job. She wondered what it could — . 8. We were all most — to finish the job by the end of the week. True enough, it would — longer hours, but we didn't — . 9. Can anybody tell me why she — to — us on the trip? 10. The man took one look at the picture and — it back to the woman. 11. Is the boy big enough to fully understand the true — of what he has done? 12. Could you — me a glass of water? 13. Why does he always have to start an — ? Can't we arrange matters in a quiet way? 14. I had nothing definite — the man. Perhaps, it was just a feeling that I had somewhere deep inside me. 15. "I don't believe they know enough to be able to — the right kind of book for a report. What they need is advice." "I fully — with you. But will they — it?" 16. Running down the steps she fell and — her leg. 17. She promised to — my mail for me until I — from my holiday. 18. Weekly trips to the neighbouring town to a dance or film helped to — the monotony of their life in camp.

Ex 16 Replace the Russian words and phrases with suitable English equivalents in the correct form. Retell the passage.

Mabel (согласилась) to marry George when he was home on a holiday. He (вернулся) to Burma and she was to (присоединиться к нему) in six months. George (не имел ничего против того, чтобы подождать). But one difficulty (следовала за) another; (так что) in the end it was seven years before she was able to start. (Ему очень хотелось) to see Mabel. He (сделал все необходимые приготовления) for the marriage as they were to marry (в день ее приезда) and went down to Rangoon to (привезти) her.

Then, (вдруг) he (передумал). Не hadn't seen Mabel for seven years. He had forgotten (как она выглядит). She was а (чужой человек). Не (почувствовал) he couldn't do it. He must tell Mabel that he was sorry, but he (действительно) couldn't (сдержать свое обещание) to marry her. But how could a man (отказать) a girl after she had travelled six thousand miles to marry him? An idea (пришла ему в голову). Не would write her a letter and she would understand (остальное). (Без) any luggage, (лишь) in the clothes he was in, he took the first boat for Singapore.

The letter Mabel got was (следующего содержания): DEAREST MABEL, I AM AWAY ON BUSINESS AND DON'T KNOW WHEN I SHALL BE BACK. (Советую вернуться) ТО ENGLAND. YOUR LOVING GEORGE.

But when he (прибыл в) Singapore they (тотчас) (вручили) him a telegram: QUITE UNDERSTAND. LOVE, MABEL. George (был немало удивлен и раздосадован). Не understood that she (следует за) him. (Значит, дело обстояло следующим образом): she had promised to marry him and (намеревалась осуществить это). Не had to think (быстро). There was not a moment (терять). No, no, he was not so easy (поймать). Не (решил) (выбрать) a place (далеко от) where he was now. (По крайней мере) he would be safe there.

He went to Cheng-tu. After a long and difficult journey he could rest (наконец). Не (наслаждался) his stay. He believed that he (был вне опасности). The weeks (проходили) one after the other.

One day the heavy doors of the Consulate opened and Mabel came in. George went pale. He looked this way and that. She went up to him.

"You (ничуть не изменился)," she said. Then she (повернулась к) the Consul.

"Are you the Consul?"

"Yes."

"That's all right. I'm ready to marry him as soon as I've had a bath." And she did.

(After "Mabel" by W. Somerset Maugham)

Ex 17 Speak on the following topics. Use the words and phrases given below.

1. Life on the Tea Plantation

two young fellows; work on a tea plantation; grow tea; be situated; high up in the hills; have a dull (unexciting) life; be eager to get letters; enjoy getting letters; break the monotony of one's life; get the mail at rather long intervals; have to fetch the mail from a good way off.

2. The Two Young Fellows

Adams: get a lot of letters by every mail; be pleased; have a lot of friends (relatives, business contacts); look for a new job; enjoy writing letters; feel sorry for sb.

Brown: be eager to get just one letter; watch sb enviously; wait (hope) for a letter; need sth badly; feel unhappy; almost lose all hope.

3. Brown Gets an Idea

make up one's mind to do sth; suddenly; come into one's head (of an idea); think of a way to get a letter; be ready to pay for sth; take a decision; talk the matter over with sb; come to an agreement (arrangement) with sb.

4. Adams Agrees to Sell a Letter

like sb's idea; be pleased with the arrangement; have no principles; look for easy ways to make money; be ready to sell anything for money; not think of what may happen; come in (of the mail); keep one's promise; at once; hand the packet of letters to sb; let sb choose a letter from the packet; get back the rest of the letters; feel happy about sth.

5. Brown Chooses His Letter

pay the money; look over the letters; in silence; choose a letter; be all the same to sb; return all the letters except one; pass into sb's hands (of the letter); look through sth; without saying a single word; learn a surprising bit of news; keep quiet about sth.

6. Adams Wants His Letter Back

think sth over; change one's mind about sth; be eager to find out about sth; an important letter; an important piece of news; want sth back very badly; make an awful mistake; join sb; break the silence with a question; be sure that ...; not expect sth to happen; be rather surprised and upset; get excited; do one's best to make sb understand sth; have a bit of an argument; be unable to do sth; get angry with sb; be unable to stand sth any longer; be ready to return the money; follow sb into his office; hope to buy the letter back; lose hope; be a good lesson to sb.

7. Brown Refuses to Return the Letter

a hard man; have one's own ideas about business; one's business principles; as follows; be against one's principles; a business agreement-believer have full rights to sth; stand on one's rights; argue with sb about sth; mean that ...; expect sb to keep his promise; be unable to understand sth; refuse to discuss the matter any further; keep the letter.

Ex 18 Test translation.

1. Вы не сможете перевести эту статью без словаря. Принесите, пожалуйста, из читального зала несколько словарей для всей группы. 2. Вы должны немедленно пойти за врачом. Ей стало хуже. 3. — Вы можете изложить (дать) основную идею книги в нескольких словах? — Это довольно трудно, но я попробую. 4. — Вы не возражаете, если я верну вам остальные деньги через неделю? — Хорошо. 5. Им очень понравилась наша идея отправиться по Волге. Они сразу же решили присоединиться к нам. 6. Я не могу согласиться с ним. По-моему, он неправ. 7. Он всегда полон идей, и я должен сказать, что некоторые из них действительно интересны. 8. Послушай, ты не знаешь, в каком магазине продаются географические карты? 9. Разрешите мне сдать работу на следующей неделе. Мне надо просмотреть ее еще раз. 10. Помогите мне, пожалуйста, выбрать галстук. Для меня это всегда проблема. 11. В киевском «Доме Книги» всегда большой выбор книг по различным вопросам. 12. Не будем спорить об этом сейчас. Мы вернемся к этому вопросу как только закончим книгу. 13. Я очень сожалею, что не сдержал своего обещания. 14. Почему вы молчали? Ведь вы же хотели выступить. 15. Я не понимаю, что означает его молчание. 16. Мы были очень удивлены его неожиданным отъездом. 17. Я сразу же заметил, что женщина чем-то расстроена. 18. Они проспорили, по крайней мере, два часа, но так и не пришли к соглашению. 19. Кстати, почему вы отказались от нашей помощи? Вам самим будет трудно закончить работу к концу месяца. 20. Проходили недели одна за другой, а писем от него все не было. 21. Ничего не меняйте в своем докладе. Оставьте всё как есть. 22. Наконец все было готово, и можно было отправляться в путь. 23. Почему вы не последовали примеру своих товарищей и не записались в спортклуб? Вам это нужно больше, чем кому-либо другому. 24. Наш план очень прост. Он заключается в следующем. 25. После его выступления последовали вопросы. 26. За телеграммой последовало письмо. 27. Я не ожидал, что мое известие так расстроит ее. 28. Не сердитесь на него. У него были самые хорошие намерения. 29. Ей не терпелось рассказать им последние новости. 30. — Вы не будете возражать, если я оставлю у вас свои вещи до возвращения? — Нисколько. 31. — Что означает слово get? — Оно имеет несколько значений. 32. Я не могу поверить, что наше решение для него ничего не значит. 33. — Как случилось, что он сломал себе ногу? — Понятия не имею. 34. Ты заметил, как он прошел мимо и не поздоровался? Интересно, что это может значить? 35. Я устал и был не в состоянии спорить с ним. 36. Не ходите за такси, у нас достаточно времени, и мы можем поехать на метро. Поезд отправляется лишь через час.